Road Funding Depends on Public Support

More money means hiking taxes or fees

When it comes to transportation needs in the area, a state lawmaker Oct. 8 told a group of local leaders it all comes down to how much people are willing to pay.

Speaking bluntly, Rep. Noel Campbell, R-Prescott, told a gathering of Pinal County business and community leaders that the state needs more money and they should come up with proposals that reflect that reality.

“We need to get revenue into the system. I’m conservative. I’m not a pro-tax guy, but the government is designed to do certain basic things: protect the population, take care of transportation needs and to educate our young people,” Campbell said. “Those are the big three things this government is set out to do and we are not doing a good job on two of the three things.”

Campbell, who is a member of the House Transportation Committee, along with Chairman Rick Gray, R-Sun City, Frank Pratt, R-Casa Grande, and T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, heard from individuals representing the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Pinal Land Holdings, Walton International, PhoenixMart and the Arizona Department of Transportation during a transportation forum held in the Casa Grande council chambers.

The forum, which was sponsored by Accelerate Arizona, a business-focused effort led by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and industry to design and elevate awareness around forward-thinking, sustainable transportation infrastructure.

Since August, Accelerate Arizona has put on forums in Flagstaff, Safford and Nogales. The group will wrap up with forums in Kingman and Yuma later in the year.